Scottish Executive

Air Services

Ms Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it or any of its executive agencies have made into whether Glasgow Airport or Edinburgh Airport would be the most suitable, on cost and other grounds, as a future Scottish hub and what conclusions any such studies came to.

Lewis Macdonald: Neither the Scottish Executive, nor any of its executive agencies, has carried out any detailed study focused on determining the comparative suitability of Glasgow and Edinburgh airports for a hub operation. The prospect of a niche hub for Scotland is raised in the consultation document The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: Scotland,  as an idea for consideration by stakeholders.

Air Services

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the total annual cost of internal air transport from the islands to the mainland to (a) the Northern Constabulary, (b) relevant local authorities, (c) relevant NHS boards, (d) the Crofters Commission, (e) Scottish Natural Heritage and (f) Scottish Water.

Lewis Macdonald: This is a matter for the organisations concerned.

Air Services

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the franchise period will be for public service obligation air routes in the Highlands and Islands and what the reasons are for the position on this matter.

Lewis Macdonald: The Executive is currently finalising the details of the tender documents for its subsidised air routes prior to forwarding to the European Commission. Under EC Regulation 2408/92 air services can be tendered for a period of up to three years.

Air Services

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give details of any plans it has to create a fixed runway on Barra.

Lewis Macdonald: The Executive has no plans to create a fixed runway on Barra.

Air Services

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage development of direct flights between Glasgow Airport and (a) Frankfurt and (b) Dusseldorf.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive has on-going discussions with its agencies (Enterprise Networks and VisitScotland) about the development of direct flights serving Scotland. These discussions have not been restricted to any particular routes. We shall continue to encourage the development of more commercial and cost effective air services for the benefit of the travelling public and the Scottish economy.

Bridges

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether toll revenues raised on the Forth Road Bridge could be used to support dedicated bus services and, if so, whether it will encourage the Forth Road Bridge Joint Board to give financial support to enhancing bus services and to the Ferry Toll park-and-ride scheme.

Lewis Macdonald: The Forth Estuary Transport Authority, which replaced the previous joint board from 1 April 2002, is empowered to use toll revenues to develop, support and fund public transport schemes and measures, and to encourage an increase in the use of public transport across the Firth of Forth. Decisions on how these revenues should be invested are a matter for the authority itself.

Concessionary Travel

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-27320 and S1W-27321 by Lewis Macdonald on 8 August 2002, why air travel between the islands and the Scottish mainland should be included in an island council’s local concessionary travel scheme for blind people rather than in the national free concessionary travel scheme to allow blind people to travel throughout Scotland.

Lewis Macdonald: The National Free Concessionary Blind Scheme is an amalgam of the 16 local concessionary travel schemes currently operating in Scotland. It is therefore for the island local authorities to consider whether their particular local schemes should be extended to provide free air travel to the mainland.

Concessionary Travel

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27319 by Lewis Macdonald on 8 August 2002, why it has not made any assessment of the cost of an extension of the national free concessionary travel scheme for blind people to travel between the islands and the Scottish mainland and whether it has any plans to do so.

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27318 by Lewis Macdonald on 8 August 2002, why it has not made any assessment of the number of registered blind persons living in the islands who would benefit from the extension of the national free concessionary travel scheme for blind people to cover air travel between the islands and the Scottish mainland and whether it has any plans to do so.

Lewis Macdonald: This is a matter for local authorities who are responsible for making concessionary travel schemes under the Transport Act 1985.

Concessionary Travel

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27322 by Lewis Macdonald on 8 August 2002, what statistics are gathered to monitor the use and effectiveness of the national free concessionary travel scheme for blind people.

Lewis Macdonald: No such statistics are collected by the Scottish Executive. The administration of the 16 local concessionary travel schemes which comprise the National Blind Scheme is a matter for the relevant local authorities.

Concessionary Travel

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will be undertaking a review of the national free concessionary travel scheme for blind people and what the terms of reference for the review will be.

Lewis Macdonald: In the answer given to question S1O-5499 on 5 September 2002, I indicated that agreement had been reached for the National Free Concessionary Travel Scheme for Blind People to continue in its current form indefinitely. No review of the scheme is planned.

Concessionary Travel

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to give concessions to companions of blind people travelling on public transport.

Lewis Macdonald: This is a matter for local authorities who are responsible for making concessionary travel schemes under the Transport Act 1985. There are currently 16 single and joint concessionary travel schemes operating in Scotland and many of these schemes provide some form of concessionary fare arrangement for companions of blind people.

Concessionary Travel

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of support is to be paid to bus operators under the new concessionary fares scheme in each local authority area and whether it will give details of the scheme in operation in each such area.

Lewis Macdonald: Local authorities are responsible for making and administering concessionary travel schemes under the Transport Act 1985 and it is for them to negotiate the level of reimbursement provided to operators of local bus services. There are 16 local concessionary travel schemes in operation in Scotland and they each offer a range of benefits considered appropriate by the relevant authority or authorities. From 30 September each of the 16 local schemes will be enhanced to provide, as a minimum, free local off-peak bus travel after 09:30 Monday to Friday and all weekend.

Courts

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list any sheriff courts except Peebles where access for disabled people is still required, giving in each case the access requirements and the cost of providing such access.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked John Ewing, the Chief Executive of the Scottish Court Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Scottish Court Service is currently assessing the scale and extent of the work required to bring the court up to the level of compliance required by the Disability Discrimination Act. In most courts there is already disabled access to the sheriff clerk’s offices but in other cases work may be needed to extend the access to a wider range of courts, jury rooms and witness accommodation. The full extent of work needed and costings have yet to be determined. The following table lists the courts where work is likely to be required.

  Facilities for the Disabled

  


Location 
  

Disabled Access to Jury and 
  Witness Rooms 
  

Disabled Access to Courts 
  

Disabled Access to General 
  Office 
  



Aberdeen 
  

Yes 
  

Yes in Cts 2,3 4 & 7 
  

Yes 
  



Airdrie 
  

Yes 
  

Yes but not Ct 4 
  

Yes 
  



Alloa 
  

No 
  

No 
  

Yes 
  



Banff 
  

Yes 
  

Yes 
  

Yes 
  



Campbeltown 
  

No 
  

Yes 
  

Yes 
  



Cupar 
  

No 
  

Yes 
  

Yes 
  



Dingwall 
  

No 
  

No 
  

Yes 
  



Dornoch 
  

No 
  

No 
  

Yes 
  



Dumfries 
  

Ct 1 only 
  

Ct 1 only 
  

Yes 
  



Dunoon 
  

No 
  

No 
  

Yes 
  



Duns 
  

No 
  

No 
  

 - 
  



Elgin 
  

Yes 
  

Yes 
  

Yes 
  



Forfar 
  

Ct 1 only 
  

Yes 
  

Yes 
  



Fort William 
  

No 
  

No 
  

Yes 
  



Greenock 
  

Only 1 
  

Yes 
  

Yes 
  



Hamilton 
  

Not Ct 2, 4 
  

Yes but not Ct 4 
  

Yes 
  



Inverness 
  

Not Ct 1, 3 
  

No 
  

Yes 
  



Kilmarnock 
  

Yes 
  

No 
  

Yes 
  



Kirkcaldy 
  

Ct 2 & 3 only 
  

Ct 1 only 
  

Yes 
  



Kirkcudbright 
  

No 
  

No 
  

Yes 
  



Kirkwall 
  

No 
  

No 
  

No 
  



Lanark 
  

Ct 3 only 
  

No 
  

No 
  



Lerwick 
  

No 
  

No 
  

Yes 
  



Linlithgow 
  

Yes 
  

Yes 
  

Yes 
  



Lochmaddy 
  

No 
  

No 
  

No 
  



Oban 
  

No 
  

No 
  

Yes 
  



Paisley 
  

Yes 
  

Yes 
  

Yes 
  



Peebles 
  

No 
  

No 
  

Yes 
  



Portree 
  

Yes but too small 
  

Yes 
  

Yes 
  



Rothesay 
  

No 
  

No 
  

Yes 
  



Selkirk 
  

No 
  

No 
  

Yes 
  



Stirling 
  

One Ct 
  

One Ct only 
  

Yes 
  



Stonehaven 
  

No 
  

No 
  

No 
  



Stornoway 
  

No 
  

Yes 
  

Yes 
  



Stranraer 
  

No 
  

No 
  

Yes 
  



Tain 
  

No 
  

No 
  

Yes 
  



Wick 
  

No 
  

No 
  

Yes"

Courts

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what facilities for access for disabled people there are in Lochmaddy, Tain, Dingwall and Portree Sheriff Courts.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Court Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Tain Sheriff Court has no facility to allow easy access for disabled persons. However Lochmaddy, Dingwall and Portree all have disabled access into the building and disabled toilet provisions. In addition Portree has a stair lift to gain access to the courtroom on the first floor.

Courts

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what alternatives to facilitating access for disabled people to court-related matters have been considered for Peebles Sheriff Court.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Court Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The feasibility study, which was commissioned after the discovery of dry rot, was prepared with regard to the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act and contains proposals to comply with the requirements of the legislation. No further report has been commissioned.

Courts

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what special arrangements are being made to facilitate access for disabled people to all courts.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Court Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Scottish Court Service is currently undertaking an audit of the court estate to determine the scale and extent of work required throughout the Estate to ensure compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act. Additional resources have been provided to the Court Service to enable any reasonable and necessary adaptations to proceed. The information is not collected centrally in respect of District Courts as responsibility for this rests with the relevant local authority.

Courts

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27460 by Mr Jim Wallace on 6 August 2002, what criteria are applied to determine "level of business".

Mr Jim Wallace: In determining the level of business conducted in any sheriff court consideration is given to the wide range of criminal and civil business which may be conducted in the court. This covers procedural hearings as well as those required for determining the case. Regard is also had to the level of administrative work carried out by the court in respect of matters which may not require an appearance before the sheriff in court.

Courts

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which courts do not currently have custody suites and what action is being taken to provide such suites.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Court Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  A number of rural courts have custody suites within the court building. Eleven rural sheriff courts do not have custody holding facilities within the court building. Nine of these (Duns, Fort William, Jedburgh, Kirkwall, Lerwick, Oban, Portree, Stonehaven and Wick) are adjacent to the local police station from which prisoners in custody can be taken into the court without using the public courthouse. In the case of Peebles and Rothesay prisoners are held in the police station which is located a short distance from the court.

  The Scottish Court Service is currently reviewing the custody accommodation across the court estate in consultation with the police to determine what, if any, improvements to that accommodation is required. No decisions have yet been taken on whether it will be necessary to provide such accommodation in locations other than Peebles.

Courts

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it measures the quality of delivery of service in sheriff courts.

Mr Jim Wallace: The ministerial targets set for the Scottish Court Service include targets relating to quality of service. Quality of service in the sheriff courts is measured by the percentage of sheriff courts achieving administrative standards agreed with the Sheriff Principal and by the percentage of court houses meeting the Coming to Court standards. The results are reported in the Scottish Court Service Annual Report and Accounts .

Courts

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the remarks by the Deputy First Minister in the debate on Peebles Sheriff Court on 27 June 2002 ( Official Report , col 13282), when the Scottish Court Service will issue the consultation paper on alternatives for the provision of court services in Peebles given that it was to be done "as soon as possible"; who will be consulted; what the timetable for the consultation will be, and whether the consultation paper will include a full background and analysis of issues including court time spent discussing settlements and accelerating cases which reduces court sittings.

Mr Jim Wallace: The consultation paper on the delivery of court services in the Peebles area is currently being finalised and should be issued by the end of September. It will be circulated to a wide range of bodies and individuals who have expressed an interest in this topic, including the judiciary, local magistrates, court users such as local solicitors as well as statutory authorities such as Borders Council, Lothian and Borders Police and the Procurator Fiscal Service. Copies of the consultation paper will also be sent to local members of the Scottish and UK Parliament. In addition copies will be made available at the Sheriff Clerk’s office in Peebles and Selkirk for the public.

  The duration of the consultation period will be a minimum of 12 weeks from date of issue. The paper will contain statistical information on the wide range of business transacted at the court in addition to information on court sitting times.

Drug Misuse

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current annual cost is of running methadone projects in the Greater Glasgow NHS Board area and what the average cost of such projects is per drug abuser.

Dr Richard Simpson: Information from Glasgow City Council, supported by Greater Glasgow NHS Board, indicates that the annual direct costs of the methadone programme are £1.6 million per 1000 patients. This cost rises to £1.9 million per 1,000 patients if onward rehabilitation costs

are included.

Drug Misuse

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the most recent estimate is of the number of injecting drug abusers in the Greater Glasgow NHS Board area.

Dr Richard Simpson: The Executive funded a study by the University of Glasgow and the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health which estimates the national and local prevalence of problem drug misuse in Scotland. The study estimates that there are 7,187 drug injectors in the Greater Glasgow NHS Board area.

Enterprise

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Phoenix Fund money is available from its Business Growth Unit for post offices in urban deprived and rural areas and, if so, when and under what criteria such funds are available.

Iain Gray: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-28938 on 16 September 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Ferry Services

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it treats Caledonian MacBrayne as a private company in regard to any aspects of its dealings with the company.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish ministers wholly own Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd. Ministers' involvement in the company's affairs is at a strategic level, for example in terms of setting its broad policy objectives, as reflected in the undertaking which defines the company’s approved services, setting its annual budget and making non-Executive director appointments. The day-to-day operation of the company, including decisions on out of undertaking activities, is a matter for the board of the company, subject to public expenditure rules and performance regimes appropriate to its status as a publicly owned company.

Fire Service

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to reduce the number of attacks on fire fighters.

Dr Richard Simpson: During the Business Debate secured by the member on 4 September, I outlined a range of measures being pursued to address the problem of attacks on personnel of all three emergency services. I also agreed to review the recommendations of an earlier working party, established to consider the protection of emergency service, personnel and to report back to Parliament on the progress being made.

Firearms

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the use of baton guns by police forces will be limited to circumstances where conventional firearms are currently used.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland has made clear that baton guns will be used to deal with firearms incidents and that they will only be deployed where a Chief Constable is satisfied that an incident involves risk to life or serious injury.

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funds have been (a) allocated to and (b) spent on bail schemes in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01, (c) 2001-02 and (d) 2002-03 to date.

Mr Jim Wallace: Funding allocated to local authorities for bail information and supervision schemes increased from £313,322 in 1999-2000, to £426,553 in 2000-01, £945,536 in 2001-02 and to £971,859 in 2002-03.

  The expenditure for bail schemes in 1999-2000 and 2000-01 was £337,591 and £526,637 respectively. Local authorities are presently in the process of submitting their audited accounts for 2001-02 and so the figures on expenditure for 2001-02 and 2002-03 are not currently available.

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will issue bail guidelines.

Mr Jim Wallace: As indicated in the answer given to question S1W-28351 on 9 September 2002, the Executive does not issue guidelines to the judiciary on judicial matters. In Scotland, judicial decisions on bail are governed by the relevant legislation and case law.

  The Lord Advocate has no plans to issue further guidance to procurators fiscal as to the attitude they should adopt when the courts are considering the grant of bail.

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a bail hearing in respect of an indictable offence and a bail application in an appeal against a conviction on indictment should be heard in public and what action it is taking on this issue.

Mr Jim Wallace: Where a person is accused on petition, all pre-trial procedures are held in private including the consideration of applications for bail. This is because bail applications are considered at hearings which also cover confidential matters.

  Where a person convicted on indictment applies for interim liberation pending the determination of his appeal, his application is considered in private by the court on the basis of a written submission.

  I understand that the Crown have a system in place for alerting victims and next of kin when a person convicted of a serious crime is granted interim liberation pending appeal.

  We are currently considering the full range of issues around interim liberation on bail, in consultation with the Lord Justice General.

Maritime Safety

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made with the Glasgow bid to be the preferred location for the new European Maritime Safety Agency and what support it has been able to provide.

Lewis Macdonald: The UK position in relation to the siting of EU Agencies is reserved and a matter for the UK Government.

  The Scottish Executive has been in regular contact with the UK Government about the location of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), and we have agreed to support location of EMSA in Glasgow. A brochure summarising the case for Glasgow, jointly produced by the Scottish Executive and the UK Government, has been circulated to the EU Institutions and Member States. The final decision on location is for all Member States and has not yet been made.

Maritime Safety

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take to increase awareness of, and encourage applications from suitably qualified people for, the post of Executive Director of the European Maritime Safety Agency.

Lewis Macdonald: The UK position relating to EU Agencies, including staffing, is reserved and a matter for the UK Government. The Scottish Executive is in close contact with the UK Government on a variety of subjects including the European Maritime Safety Agency. It would be for the Department for Transport to consider proposing any candidate from the UK for the post of Executive Director of the European Maritime Safety Agency.

NHS Boards

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made, or is planning to make, into the optimum number of NHS boards.

Malcolm Chisholm: There are no plans to vary the number of unified NHS boards, which were established as recently as September 2001.

  However, a longer-term review of management and decision-making in NHSScotland is now under way. We have made it clear that the review is not intended to result in structural upheaval, although NHS organisations might evolve and change where this will produce tangible benefits for patients, staff and local communities.

  Whatever the outcomes of the review, we do not expect to spend the coming months discussing structures: we will concentrate on helping the NHS deliver better front-line care for patients.

Oil and Gas Industry

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it plans to take in respect of projected levels of North Sea oil and gas exploration activity following any changes to the UK continental shelf tax regime.

Lewis Macdonald: This is a reserved matter. We remain in regular contact with the oil and gas industry on a wide range of issues, in particular through PILOT, of which I am Vice Chair. We will continue to work with the industry and with the UK Government through PILOT, to strengthen and sustain the oil and gas industry in the UKCS.

Oil and Gas Industry

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to Her Majesty’s Government in respect of projected levels of North Sea oil and gas exploration activity following any changes to the UK continental shelf tax regime.

Lewis Macdonald: We are in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including the oil and gas industry.

Parliamentary Questions

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide a substantive answer to question S1W-26333 lodged on 26 May 2002.

Nicol Stephen: Question S1W-26333 was answered on 16 September 2002.

Planning

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it received the minerals plan from South Lanarkshire Council and what process it will undertake before it approves the plan.

Hugh Henry: The Executive was notified of the council’s intention to adopt the plan on 24 July 2002. A Direction was issued on 14 August deferring adoption of the plan to allow more time for the Executive to consider the plans contents. Following such consideration, it was decided, on 12 September, to cancel the direction. It is now for the council to decide how to proceed and the approval of the Scottish ministers is not required. This is in line with the Executive’s general policy that local planning matters are primarily the responsibility of planning authorities.

Publishers

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it attaches to the ability of writers resident in Scotland to achieve publication and what steps it is taking to ensure that writers achieve that objective.

Dr Elaine Murray: The Scottish Executive believes that it is crucial that writers resident in Scotland are able to achieve publication. The Scottish Arts Council Literature Department will allocate a total of £440,000 in 2002-03 to Scottish based writers, individual publishing organisations, literary magazines and the Scottish Publishers Association.

Rape

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been commissioned into the conduct of the judiciary in rape trials and whether the findings of any such research will lead to discussions about such trials.

Mr Jim Wallace: No research into the conduct of the judiciary in rape trials has been commissioned.

  Research carried out by Brown, Burman & Jamieson into the use of sexual history and sexual character evidence in Scottish sexual offence trials, published by the Scottish Office Central Research Unit in 1992, did, however, involve court observation of sexual offence trials. That research report informed the development of policy in this area, and underpinned the changes in the law of evidence made by the Sexual Offences (Procedure & Evidence) (Scotland) Act 2002.

Rates

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has carried out into the underlying reasons for any variation in average rateable values for businesses.

Peter Peacock: The valuation of non-domestic property for rating purposes is the responsibility of the Scottish Assessors. Assessors act independently of both central and local government reaching decisions in accordance with statute and case law.

Recycling

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what grant schemes are available to recycling companies; how many successful applications there have been under each scheme in each of the last three years, and what the value of each (a) grant and (b) application was.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive provides support to the UK-wide Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP). WRAP has established a Business Development Service which aims to assist businesses which sell, buy, process or collect recycled glass, paper, wood or plastic to attract finance and investment. This service is free and the advice is tailored to the individual business. WRAP also periodically offers funding for capital investment and research and development purposes. To date £369,500 has been awarded to three companies in Scotland. Further information is available on their website (www.wrap.org.uk).

  In addition, where recycling companies have projects that meet the eligibility criteria, they can apply for Regional Selective Assistance (RSA).

  Details of RSA applications over the last three years from recycling companies is contained in the table:

  

 

RSA Applications 
  

Grant Applied For 
  

Grant Offered 
  



1999-2000 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



2000-01 
  

3 
  

£368,600 
  

£369,000 
  



2001-02 
  

2 
  

£44,200 
  

£45,000 
  



  These figures were obtained from SAMIS using the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes 37.10, recycling of metal waste and scrap and 37.20, recycling of non-metal waste and scrap.

  There are a number of other sources of grant available including the local enterprise networks, packaging compliance schemes, local authorities and European funds. Details of applications and grants under these schemes are not held centrally.

Recycling

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what facilities are available to the public for the recycling of plastic.

Ross Finnie: This is a matter for local authorities. The information requested is not held centrally. However, the organisation RECOUP carried out a study into plastics recycling which showed that 12 of the 32 local authorities in Scotland had a plastics collection in 2001.

  The Executive distributed £3 million in March 2001 to allow local authorities to establish or expand recycling schemes including the collection of plastics. This funding has allowed a number of local authorities to provide separate kerbside collections, which include plastics as well as plastic bottle banks at recycling centres and plastic balers.

Recycling

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of domestic waste is estimated to be made up of plastics.

Ross Finnie: The information requested is not held centrally.

  Figures for the composition of household waste can be found in tables 2 and 3, page 4 of Waste Data Digest 2001, published by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, a copy of which is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 22559) or on SEPA's website:

  www.sepa.org.uk/publications/wds/data_digest.pdf.

Recycling

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce a levy on plastic shopping bags.

Ross Finnie: The introduction of a levy on plastic shopping bags would be a reserved matter for Her Majesty's Treasury.

Roads

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27414 by Lewis MacDonald on 6 August 2002, what "serious detrimental environmental impact" would be caused by using the Kelvin Valley route for upgrading the A80.

Lewis Macdonald: The appraisal summary tables published as part of the Strategic Roads Review explained that serious detrimental environmental impacts would occur as a consequence of the Kelvin Valley route in relation to:

  an increase in carbon dioxide emissions (global air quality);

  the impact of the drainage regime on the natural land drainage system;

  the impacts on ecology;

  disturbances to the Antonine Wall and the Forth and Clyde Canal;

  the impacts on the rural landscape character.

Roads

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what studies have been carried out to assess the environmental impact of using the Kelvin Valley route whilst upgrading the A80; who carried out any such studies, and when each was carried out and the results were published.

Lewis Macdonald: An environmental assessment of options for upgrading the A80 to motorway using the Kelvin Valley and the present route of the road was carried out by the Babtie Group in 1996. This work was reviewed as part of the Strategic Road Review and the emerging appraisal summary tables were published by the Scottish Executive Development Department in November 1999 in Travel Choices for Scotland: Strategic Roads Review .

Roads

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what winter maintenance payments for non-trunk roads were awarded to each local authority in 2001, expressed per capita and detailing separately any top-up awards that were made.

Peter Peacock: Support for local authority expenditure on general and winter road maintenance is provided within the general grant allocations to each council, and is not separately identified.

Roads

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many objections (a) were lodged and (b) remain unresolved regarding the A90 improvement between Longforgan and the Swallow Hotel.

Lewis Macdonald: Four objections were lodged against the draft orders published in 1997. Three remain unresolved.

Roads

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much the consultation process regarding future development of the A80 has cost to date, giving (a) a full breakdown of how such costs were incurred and (b) expected overall expenditure on completion of the process.

Lewis Macdonald: Consultation was a continuing thread throughout the Central Scotland Transport Corridor Studies, for each of the A80, A8 and M74 corridors, and involved a steering group, a consultative forum and focus groups. In addition, the Scottish Executive has taken advice from an External Advisory Panel of four eminent academics, established to provide an independent and impartial overview of the direction and content of the studies. In addition to these consultations, local councillors and MSPs have been presented with information from the studies at key points.

  This consultation process was an integral part of the corridor studies work and the cost of consultation cannot be separated out from the overall budget for the studies, nor can the costs for the A80 study be separated out from the total costs for the three corridors.

Roads

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what performance reports on the maintenance of trunk roads were completed by local authority operators in each year since 1999.

Lewis Macdonald: None.

School Census

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Pupil Support and Inclusion Division of its Education Department consulted with its Equality Unit, the Commission for Racial Equality, the Centre for Education for Racial Equality in Scotland and the General Register Office for Scotland on the framework of, and questions to be used in, the School Census September 2002 and, if so, what the outcome of that consultation was.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has consulted widely with both internal and external colleagues on the framework and classifications to be used in the school census.

  The Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) and the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) were not formally consulted over the proposed ethnic background and national identity categories, but the Scottish Executive did take into consideration the classifications used in the 2001 Census of Population, conducted by the GROS. The recommendations of the CRE in their consultation document Ethnic Monitoring – a guide for public authorities were also taken into account in compiling the categories.

  Comments on the categories were also sought from the Centre for Education for Racial Equality in Scotland (CERES). However, not all of CERES’ suggestions could be taken on board given the need to ensure that the categories used in the September 2002 School Census matched closely with those in the 2001 Census of Population to ensure comparability and consistency across different data sources.

  The national identity and ethnic background categories used in the school census are subject to review to ensure that they remain relevant and well understood. This will ensure that on-going work at a national level on equality and inclusion issues is reflected in future censuses.

Scottish Executive Finance

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 15 July 2002 of £257 million additional funding for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, what funding consequentials will be allocated to its Tourism, Culture and Sport portfolio.

Mike Watson: The funding consequentials from the Chancellors' announcement on 15 July 2002 were paid into the Scottish Consolidated Fund.

  Decisions on the allocation of the money from the Scottish Consolidated Fund are made by Scottish ministers. Building a Better Scotland, which was published on 12 September 2002 contains a breakdown of the SR2002 results and gives details of the allocation to the Tourism, Culture and Sport portfolio. Copies of the publication are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 24102).

Scottish Transport Group Pension Schemes

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the ex-gratia payments to be made to members of the Scottish Bus Group Pension Funds, how much the highest 20 payments will be; whether payments will be made to former directors of the Scottish Bus Group or the Scottish Transport Group companies, and, if so, how much will be paid to each former director, detailing in each case the name of the director.

Lewis Macdonald: It is not possible to provide details of the amounts paid to individual former members of the Scottish Bus Group Pension Schemes, as to do so may breach the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998.

Sexual Offences

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what training courses are provided for judges and sheriffs in relation to court cases involving allegations of domestic violence.

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what training courses are provided for judges and sheriffs in relation to court cases involving charges of child abuse and sexual abuse.

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what training courses are provided for judges in relation to court cases involving charges of rape and other sexual offences.

Mr Jim Wallace: Judicial training is a matter for the judiciary. It is overseen by the Judicial Studies Committee. The subjects of rape, other sexual offences, child abuse, sexual abuse and domestic violence are currently dealt with in the annual refresher courses, primarily in the context of domestic violence. I understand that consideration is being given to seminars on sexual offences next year.

Social Economy

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the Social Economy Review.

Ms Margaret Curran: I hope to do so shortly.

Tax

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact a Scottish service tax would have on the administration of council tax.

Peter Peacock: A Scottish Service Tax would replace the council tax. It would be a national tax and would remove the link between local budget decisions and local accountability.

Teachers

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that allegations against teachers of physical violence are handled in a way that does not result in subsequent court actions for defamation against young people and protects teachers against unjustified complaint.

Nicol Stephen: The Executive wishes to ensure that children are freely able to raise genuine matters of concern. Education authorities have a duty of care to their pupils and should always take appropriate action in relation to this duty. At the same time authorities should take steps to protect individual teachers against malicious complaints. Allegations of physical violence by teachers, in the first instance, are matters for education authorities and the police in the first instance. All such cases should be thoroughly investigated in relation to the subsequent disciplinary issues. The Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers is currently considering revised disciplinary procedures which will ensure that appropriate investigations are carried out in ways which protect the legitimate interests of both teachers and children.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to assist in the creation of a park-and-ride scheme in the area of Edinburgh Airport or Newbridge, similar to the Ferry Toll scheme, in order to deal with traffic from the west, the M8 and the M9.

Lewis Macdonald: This is a matter for City of Edinburgh Council. The council is developing a strategic park-and-ride site at Ingliston and I understand that the council has now applied for planning permission for the site.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it is giving to expansion of the Ferry Toll park-and-ride scheme.

Lewis Macdonald: SESTRAN has applied for funding to expand the Ferrytoll park and ride scheme from the fifth round of the Public Transport Fund.

  Decisions on the Public Transport Fund will be announced in October.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support the development of a bus park-and-ride scheme on the M90 near Halbeath in order to assist in easing congestion and what action it has taken or plans to take on this matter.

Lewis Macdonald: The development of such a scheme is a matter for Fife Council and the Forth Estuary Transport Authority.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to assist and promote the use of smart card technology in order to improve inter-modal and inter-operator use of public transport and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Lewis Macdonald: The Executive funded a pilot smartcard project in Aberdeen through the first round of the Modernising Government Fund. Aberdeen City Council has used this support to develop a citizen's smartcard with concessionary fares for elderly people being a core application. Every bus in Aberdeen will be fitted with smartcard readers and the smartcards themselves will be rolled out to all concessionary card holders over the next few months.

  The Executive, through the second round of the Modernising Government Fund, has encouraged a consortium of local authorities to work together to further develop the Aberdeen model. We took this approach in order to develop a Scottish-wide solution and a standard approach to smartcard technology. This will deliver economies of scale and provide a platform to further develop smartcard technology to support multiple applications, including further transport developments.

  More generally, the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 provides local authorities with powers to develop integrated joint ticketing schemes between bus operators.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that any scheme for upgrading the A8000 will also provide for the improvement of the dedicated bus lane service on the northbound side of the A90.

Lewis Macdonald: The City of Edinburgh Council, as the relevant roads authority, and the Forth Estuary Transport Authority are jointly taking forward plans to construct the M9 Spur Extension/A90 Upgrading Scheme to provide a new link road and reduce congestion on the A8000, which is a local road. The proposals do not include any provision for a dedicated bus lane on the northbound side of the A90.

Waste Water

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will meet representatives of Scottish Borders Council to discuss the authority's concerns regarding lack of spare capacity in waste water treatment works in a number of settlements there, including Duns, Ayton, Earlston, Newtown St Boswells, Lauder, Stow, Peebles, West Linton and Eddleston.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether development is being delayed in the Scottish Borders Council area owing to lack of further sewerage capacity in some towns and villages and what action it is taking in respect of this matter.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will meet representatives of Scottish Borders Council and Scottish Water, the Water Commissioner for Scotland and relevant MSPs to address the capacity of waste water treatment works in certain towns and villages in the Scottish Borders Council area.

Ross Finnie: The Executive has been aware of the issues relating to constraints on water and waste water infrastructure for some time. A number of meetings were held earlier this year with representatives of the house building industry, the then water authorities, representatives of local authorities, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Water Industry Commissioner, to explore the way forward.

  In the first instance, however, this is an operational matter for Scottish Water. I am aware that they have been undertaking a significant amount of work in past months following the meetings referred to, to review their whole investment programme. This work has been necessary to inform them better about the investment required to ease such constraints across Scotland, and about its prioritisation.

  When this work is completed, I understand that Scottish Water intend to arrange meetings with local authorities to discuss their findings.

Water Charges

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the charges for business customers in the former East of Scotland Water Authority area for (a) water supply and (b) waste water services (i) were in each of the last three years of the authority’s existence and (ii) have been in the current year under Scottish Water.

Ross Finnie: This is a matter for Scottish Water. The Chief Executive's response is:

  Business charges for water and sewerage for the four years from 1999-2000 to the current year are as follows.

  If the property does not have a meter:

  Since 1999-2000, unmetered water and sewerage charges for business customers in the East are based on the amount of water the customer would likely use if their property had a meter. This amount and the assumed meter size are agreed with the customer.

  If the property has a meter, customers pay the following charges:

  Water Charges:

  1. Volumetric Water Charge (Charged Per M3 of Water Used)*:

  


1999-2000

 

2000-01


2001-02


2002-03




Borders, Edinburgh and Lothians


50p


First 100,000m3 


61p


61p


61p




Forth Valley, Fife, North Lanarkshire and 
  East Dumbartonshire 
  

46p


Next 150,000m3 


61p


61p


44p




Over 250,000m3


61p


61p


40p




  Note:

  *New charging structure for volumetric water rates implemented in 2000-01

  2. Fixed charge for water (charges based on meter size):

  


Meter Size


1999-2000


2000-01


2001-02


2002-03




6mm 
  

£4 
  

£4 
  

£8 
  

£120 
  



8mm 
  

£8 
  

£9 
  

£12 
  

£120 
  



10mm 
  

£14 
  

£16 
  

£21 
  

£120 
  



13mm 
  

£27 
  

£31 
  

£43 
  

£120 
  



Up to 20mm 
  

£64 
  

£74 
  

£100 
  

£120 
  



25 and 30mm 
  

£152 and £245 
  

£175 and £280 
  

£240 and £385 
  

£347 
  



40mm 
  

£426 
  

£490 
  

£670 
  

£968 
  



50 and 65mm 
  

£941 and £1,727 
  

£1080 and £1985 
  

£1475 and £2700 
  

£2,131 
  



75mm 
  

£2,733 
  

£3,100 
  

£4,300 
  

£6,214 
  



100mm 
  

£5,823 
  

£6,700 
  

£9,100 
  

£13,150 
  



150mm 
  

£16,915 
  

£19,400 
  

£26,500 
  

£38,293 
  



200mm 
  

£36,046 
  

£41,400 
  

£56,400 
  

£83,232 
  



250mm 
  

£64,823 
  

£74,500 
  

£101,500 
  

£150,136 
  



300mm 
  

£104,708 
  

£120,300 
  

£164,000 
  

£242,905 
  



400mm 
  

£223,135 
  

£256,400 
  

£349,300 
  

£506,485 
  



450mm 
  

£304,158 
  

£349,500 
  

£476,000 
  

£690,200 
  



600mm 
  

£648,168 
  

£744,500 
  

£1,015,000 
  

£1,471,750 
  



  Sewerage Charges:

  3. Measured sewerage charges

  

 

1999-2000


2000-01


2001-02


2002-03




Volumetric sewage (per m3 of 
  water used)


83.5p


£1.10


96p


£1.05




Surface water drainage (per £ rateable value) 
  

0.35p


.4p


.7p


1.2p




  4. Fixed Charge for Sewerage (Based on Size of Meter):

  


Meter Size


1999-2000


2000-01


2001-02


2002-03




6mm 
  

£9 
  

£10 
  

£10 
  

£116 
  



8mm 
  

£19 
  

£22 
  

£22 
  

£116 
  



10mm 
  

£35 
  

£40 
  

£40 
  

£116 
  



15mm 
  

£69 
  

£80 
  

£80 
  

£116 
  



Up to 20mm 
  

£163 
  

£190 
  

£190 
  

£276 
  



25 and 30mm 
  

£387 and £625 
  

 £450 and £720  
  

£450 and £720 
  

£653 
  



40mm 
  

£1,086 
  

£1,250 
  

£1,250 
  

£1,812 
  



50 and 65mm 
  

£2397 and £4401 
  

 £2760 and £5060  
  

£2760 and £5060 
  

£4,002 
  



75mm 
  

£6,962 
  

£8,000 
  

£8,000 
  

£11,600 
  



100mm 
  

£14,835 
  

£17,100 
  

£17,100 
  

£24,795 
  



150mm 
  

£43,094 
  

£49,600 
  

£49,600 
  

£71,920 
  



200mm 
  

£91,834 
  

£105,600 
  

£105,600 
  

£153,120 
  



250mm 
  

£165,149 
  

£190,000 
  

£190,000 
  

£275,500 
  



300mm 
  

£266,762 
  

 N/A  
  

N/A 
  

N/A"

Water Charges

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the charges for business customers in the former West of Scotland Water Authority area for (a) water supply and (b) waste water services (i) were in each of the last three years of the authority’s existence and (ii) have been in the current year under Scottish Water

Ross Finnie: This is a matter for Scottish Water. The Chief Executive's response is:

  Business charges for water and sewerage for the four years from 1999-2000 to the current year are as follows.

  If the property does not have a meter, charges are based on the property’s rateable value. The charge per £ rateable value is:

  

 

1999-2000 
  

2000-01 
  

2001-02 
  

2002-03 
  



Water 
  

4.57p 
  

4.48p 
  

5.08p 
  

5.08p 
  



Sewerage 
  

5.82p


6.55p


7.05p


7.05p 
  



  If the property has a meter, customers pay the following charges:

  Water Charges:

  1. Volumetric Water Charge (Charged by Pence Per M3 of Water Used):

  

 

1999-2000 
  

2000-01 
  

2001-02 
  

2002-03 
  



First 100,000m3 


45.6p 
  

49.39p 
  

54.03p 
  

61p 
  



Next 150,000m3 


45.6p 
  

44.45p 
  

48.63p 
  

44p 
  



Over 250,000m3


40.12p 
  

42.23p 
  

45.93p 
  

40p 
  



  2. Fixed Charge for Water (Charges Based on Meter Size):

  


Meter Size


1999-2000


2000-01


2001-02


2002-03




Up to 20mm 
  

£69 
  

£81 
  

£100 
  

£120 
  



25 and 30mm 
  

£177 
  

£252 
  

£347 
  

£347 
  



40mm 
  

£358 
  

£538 
  

£760 
  

£760 
  



50 and 65mm 
  

£613 
  

£938 
  

£1,339 
  

£1,339 
  



75mm 
  

£1,338 
  

£2,080 
  

£2,990 
  

£3,905 
  



100mm 
  

£2,354 
  

£3,679 
  

£5,302 
  

£8,263 
  



150mm 
  

£5,258 
  

£8,248 
  

£11,909 
  

£24,061 
  



200mm 
  

£9,322 
  

£14,645 
  

£21,158 
  

£52,298 
  



250mm 
  

£11,806 
  

£18,542 
  

£26,786 
  

£94,337 
  



300mm 
  

£20,933 
  

£32,921 
  

£47,585 
  

£152,628 
  



  Sewerage Charges:

  3. Measured sewerage charges:

  

 

1999-2000


2000-01


2001-02


2002-03




Volumetric sewage (per m3 of 
  water used)


8.09p


25.26p


53.95p


97p




Surface water drainage (per £ rateable value) 
  

4.77p


4.62p


3.86p


3p*




  Note:

  *If no rainwater from the property drains to the public sewer, the charge is 1.78p

  4. Fixed Charge for Sewerage (Based on Size of Meter):

  


Meter Size


1999-2000


2000-01


2001-02


2002-03




20mm 
  

£5 
  

£10 
  

£20 
  

£55 
  



25 and 30mm 
  

£20 
  

£40 
  

£80 
  

£220 
  



40mm 
  

£45 
  

£90 
  

£180 
  

£495 
  



50 and 65mm 
  

£80 
  

£160 
  

£320 
  

£880 
  



75mm 
  

£180 
  

£360 
  

£720 
  

£1,980 
  



100mm 
  

£320 
  

£640 
  

£1,280 
  

£3,520 
  



150mm 
  

£720 
  

£1,440 
  

£2,880 
  

£7,920 
  



200mm 
  

£1,280 
  

£2,560 
  

£5,120 
  

£14,080 
  



250mm 
  

£1,620 
  

£3,240 
  

£6,480 
  

£17,820 
  



300mm 
  

£2,880 
  

£5,760 
  

£11,520 
  

£31,680

Water Charges

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the charges for business customers in the former North of Scotland Water Authority area for (a) water supply and (b) waste water services (i) were in each of the last three years of the authority’s existence and (ii) have been in the current year under Scottish Water

Ross Finnie: This is a matter for Scottish Water. The Chief Executive's response is:

  Business charges for water and sewerage for the four years from 1999-2000 to the current year are as follows.

  If the property does not have a meter, charges are based on the property’s rateable value. The charge per £ rateable value is:

  


Water 
  

1999-2000 
  

2000-01 
  

2001-02 
  

2002-03 
  



Tayside 
  

4.84p 
  

7.29p 
  

8.6p 
  

8.6p 
  



All other areas (2000-01 and beyond) 
  

Varies – see below 
  

9.60p 
  

9.76p 
  

9.76p 
  



Western Isles 
  

9.72p 
  
 
 
 



Grampian 
  

6.4p 
  
 
 
 



Orkney 
  

9p 
  
 
 
 



Highland 
  

9.72p 
  
 
 
 



Shetland 
  

9.72p 
  
 
 
 



Sewerage 
  

6.12p


8.04p


9.61p


9.61p 
  



  If the property has a meter, customers pay the following charges:

  Water Charges:

  1. Volumetric Water Charge (Charged by Pence Per M3 of Water Used):

  

 

1999-2000 
  

2000-01 
  

2001-02 
  

2002-03 
  



First 100,000m3 


68.3p 
  

91.7p 
  

£1.041 
  

£1.006 
  



Next 150,000m3 


68.3p 
  

77.93p 
  

88.49p 
  

71p 
  



Over 250,000m3


68.3p 
  

64.16p 
  

72.87p 
  

60p 
  



  2. Fixed Charge for Water (Charges Based on Meter Size):

  


Meter Size


1999-2000


2000-01


2001-02


2002-03




Up to 20mm 
  

£57 
  

£62 
  

£74 
  

£120 
  



25 and 30mm 
  

£57 
  

£62 
  

£74 
  

£120 
  



40mm 
  

£68 
  

£74 
  

£88 
  

£760 
  



50 and 65mm 
  

£78 
  

£85 
  

£101 
  

£1,339 
  



75mm 
  

£105 
  

£115 
  

£137 
  

£3,905 
  



100mm 
  

£105 
  

£115 
  

£137 
  

£8,263 
  



150mm 
  

£156 
  

£171 
  

£205 
  

£24,061 
  



200mm 
  

£156 
  

£171 
  

£205 
  

£52,298 
  



250mm 
  

£156 
  

£171 
  

£205 
  

£94,337 
  



300mm 
  

£156 
  

£171 
  

£205 
  

£152,628 
  



  Sewerage Charges:

  

 

1999-2000


2000-01


2001-02


2002-03




Volumetric sewage (per m3 of 
  water used)


--


21.72p


30.79p


97p




Surface water drainage (per £ rateable value) 
  

--


7.12p


7.93p


5p*




  Note:

  *If no rainwater from the property drains to the public sewer, the charge is 4p.

Water Charges

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive why Scottish Water applies surface water collection charges to businesses that do not discharge any surface water into Scottish Water sewers in the north and the west of Scotland but does not apply such charges to such businesses in the east of Scotland.

Ross Finnie: This is a matter for Scottish Water. The Chief Executive's response is:

  Each of the three authorities had their own charges scheme and charged differently for water services. In the former west and north areas the surface water drainage charge covered drainage from both roads and private property, whereas in the east the surface water drainage charge only covered property drainage. Road drainage costs were included as part of the volumetric sewage charge.

  In the former east area, if a customer’s property does not drain to the public sewer then the surface water drainage charge is cancelled but the customer still pays road drainage charges as part of the volumetric sewage charge. In the former north and west areas, the surface water drainage charge is reduced for properties not draining to the sewer and only the cost of road drainage is charged.

  Scottish Water is continuously reviewing its charges and will be evaluating how customers are charged for surface water drainage as it develops a harmonised charging structure across Scotland.

Water Industry

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation was undertaken by Scottish Water with business customers in (a) the west, (b) the east and (c) the north of Scotland before water supply and waste water services charges for businesses in each of these former water authority areas were finalised.

Ross Finnie: This is a matter for Scottish Water. The Chief Executive's response is:

  None. Scottish Water was not established until 1 April 2002. Charges schemes for 2002-03 had been developed by the three former water authorities in anticipation of the creation of Scottish Water. These schemes were developed in consultation with the Water Industry Commissioner on the basis of the revenues cap agreed in the light of the Quality and Standards process which was subject to full public consultation by Scottish ministers.